Given the sound and fury that often surround political campaigns, it might be tempting for Florida voters to write off the quieter judicial races. That would be a serious mistake.

Rules of conduct keep the volume down in judicial campaigns, but don't forget: It's judges who determine if Florida's judicial branch lives up to its mission — "to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes."

Florida's circuit judges preside over serious criminal cases and rule on disputes involving families, businesses and government policies. They are elected to six-year terms in nonpartisan races, and earn $146,000 a year.

Eight seats for judges, identified by a group number, are at stake on the Aug. 26 ballot in the Ninth Circuit, which covers Orange and Osceola counties. For our endorsements, we weighed multiple factors, including background, experience, accomplishments, temperament and other endorsements.

Here are our picks in three groups. We'll get to the rest in later editorials.

Group 18

Elaine Barbour of Orlando stands out among the three candidates for this open seat in the length and breadth of her legal experience. In 26 years as a lawyer, most of her work has been in marital and family law, but she's been a public defender and is board certified — an honor that recognizes her expertise — in criminal trial law. She has an extensive record of service in legal and community groups.

Neither of her two opponents — James Hetz of Orlando or Harold Bacchus of Orange County — can match her credentials. We endorse Elaine Barbour.

Group 30

Kevin Weiss of Winter Park is the most qualified candidate in this two-man race for an open seat. He's a top-rated lawyer who managed his own successful law firm and still found time to be active in legal and community groups.

The other candidate, Orley Burey of Apopka, is a 10-year lawyer who spent eight years total under State Attorneys Lawson Lamar and Jeff Ashton. It's notable that Lamar and Ashton chose to endorse Weiss in this race, however. We do, too.

Group 33

Judge Heather Pinder Rodriguez of Maitland, who faces one challenger, was appointed to the bench in 2012 by Gov. Rick Scott after she was nominated by a commission that vetted her qualifications. She presided for two years in criminal court before moving earlier this year to civil court, where she hears family law cases.

Pinder Rodriguez has been the target of some criticism in a defense lawyers' survey. We think those anonymous allegations are outweighed by the dozens of area lawyers who put their names behind her campaign with their endorsements. We'll add ours.

The judge's opponent, Roger Scott of Winter Park, is a 21-year lawyer with extensive experience in criminal defense. He can't make a strong enough case, however, for voters to kick Pinder Rodriguez off the bench.